Gypsy

A TAMS-WITMARK TITLE

Gypsy

Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy  /  8w, 2m plus ensemble

A Musical Fable
Book by Arthur Laurents
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Suggested by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee

Original production by David Merrick & Leland Hayward
Entire production originally directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins

The Mother of All Musicals! The jewel of Broadway's Golden Age, Gypsy boasts an incomparable score, a brilliantly conceived book, and one of the greatest leading roles ever to grace the Broadway stage.

Image: 2024 Broadway Production (Julieta Cervantes)

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    8w, 2m plus ensemble
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Biography
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior, Children (Age 6-10), Pre-Teen (Age 11-13), Teen (Age 14-18)
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 1975 Tony Award for Best Actress
    Winner! Two 1975 Theatre World Awards (Zan Charisse and John Sheridan)
    Winner! Two 1990 Tony Awards, for Revival and Actress
    Winner! Two 1990 Drama Desk Awards, for Revival and Actress
    Winner! Two 1990 Outer Critics Circle Awards, for Revival and Actress
    Winner! Two 1990 Theatre World Awards (John Lambert and Crista Moore)
    Winner! 2003 Theatre World Award (Tammy Blanchard)
    Winner! Three 2008 Tony Awards
    Winner! Three 2008 Drama Desk Awards,
    Winner! Two 2008 Outer Critics Circle Awards
Gypsy

Details

Summary

Regarded by many theatre professionals as the finest musical ever created, Gypsy is the ultimate tale of an ambitious stage mother fighting for her daughters’ success – while secretly yearning for her own. Set all across America in the 1920s and 30s, when vaudeville was dying and burlesque was born, Arthur Laurents’ landmark show explores the world of two-bit show business with brass, humor, heart and sophistication.

The celebrated score by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim boasts one glorious hit after another, including “Everything's Coming Up Roses”, “Let Me Entertain You”, “Some People”, “You'll Never Get Away from Me”, “If Momma Was Married”, “All I Need Is the Girl”, “You Gotta Get A Gimmick”, “Small World” and “Together Wherever We Go”.

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History
Gypsy opened at the Broadway Theatre on 21 May 1959, starring Ethel Merman as Rose and Sandra Church as Louise. Later moving to the Imperial Theatre, the show played for a total of 702 performances. In London, Gypsy played for 300 performances at the Piccadilly Theatre, starring Angela Lansbury as Rose. This extremely successful show has been revived on Broadway no less than four times: starring Angela Lansbury in 1974, Tyne Daly in 1989, Bernadette Peters in 2003, and Patti LuPone in 2008. A 2015 revival at the Savoy Theatre in London starred Imelda Staunton.
  • Time Period 1930s, 1920s
  • Setting Various cities throughout the USA. 1920s-30s.

  • Features Period Costumes
  • Additional Features Animal Spot
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“The quintessential American musical.” – The Hollywood Reporter

“I've always had only one choice in the category of favorite musical. It is Gypsy...a wrenching fable about a tyrannical stage mother and the daughters she both champions and cripples - yet also a showcase for one classic Jule Styne/Stephen Sondheim song and rousing Jerome Robbins vaudeville routine after another.” Frank Rich, The New York Times

“Styne’s score [is] one of the best for any show ever.” Ben Brantley, The New York Times

“Fabulous... a testament to the power of the integrated musical in that the book by Arthur Laurents, the music by Jule Styne and the lyrics by Stephen Sondheim are all partners in a genuine coalition.” Michael Billington, The Guardian

Gypsy, the 1959 fable of the last days of vaudeville, shines with a magnified transparency that lets you see right down to the naked core of characters so hungry for attention that it warps them.” Ben Brantley, The New York Times

“With its backstage shenanigans, dark-tinged striver's success story, and characters perpetually on the road, Gypsy is arguably, in thematic terms, the quintessential American musical.” Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter

Videos

  • Gypsy - Savoy Theatre youtube thumbnail

    Gypsy - Savoy Theatre

  • "Everything's Coming Up Roses" youtube thumbnail

    "Everything's Coming Up Roses"

  • "Rose's Turn" - Bernadette Peters youtube thumbnail

    "Rose's Turn" - Bernadette Peters

  • Gypsy - 2008 Tony Awards youtube thumbnail

    Gypsy - 2008 Tony Awards

Photos

  • Gypsy

    Image: 2024 Broadway Production (Julieta Cervantes)

  • Gypsy

    Image: 2024 Broadway Production (Julieta Cervantes)

  • Gypsy

    Image: 2008 Broadway Production (Joan Marcus)

  • Gypsy

    Image: 2008 Broadway Production (Joan Marcus)

  • Gypsy

    Image: 2008 Broadway Production (Joan Marcus)

  • Gypsy

    Image: 2008 Broadway Production (Joan Marcus)

  • Gypsy

    Image: Sam Norkin

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Music

Music Samples

  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Dance Requirements Moderate
  • Vocal DemandsDifficult
  • Orchestra Size Large
  • Chorus Size Large

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

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Authors

Arthur Laurents

Arthur Laurents

Arthur Laurents (1917-2011) was the author of musical plays such as West Side Story, Gypsy, Anyone Can Whistle, Do I Hear A Waltz?, Hallelujah Baby! (1967 Tony Award For Best Musical) and Nick & Nora; and the screenplays The Snake Pit, Rope, Caught, Anastasia, Bonjour Tristes ...

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Jule Styne

Jule Styne

Jule Styne (1905-1994) made Broadway sing for 50 years with shows including High Button Shoes; Gentlemen Prefer Blondes; Hazel Flagg; Gypsy; Peter Pan; Bells Are Ringing; Do Re Mi; Subways Are For Sleeping; Funny Girl; Fade Out-Fade In; Hallelujah, Baby!; The Red Shoes; and D ...

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Stephen Sondheim

Stephen Sondheim

Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021) wrote the music and lyrics for Saturday Night (1954), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962), Anyone Can Whistle (1964), Company (1970), Follies (1971), A Little Night Music (1973), The Frogs (1974), Pacific Overtures (1976), Sweene ...

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Author

Gypsy Rose Lee

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